Monday, March 9, 2009

I'm back from the Michigan Audubon Conference and have had time to think about what I experienced and learned this past weekend. I spoke about Birding & Blogging and reviewed how to set up a blog, blogger etiquette and how blogging can help the birds. All my attendees filled out review forms on me (hopefully no one wrote "thinks she's funny but she's not!") and I was told I got high marks so I was very appreciative!

2nd thing - after attending a presentation on Loons, I am even more worried about their future. Added to the list of loss of habitat affecting these poor Loons, now they have to contend with Avian botulism which is occuring in our Great Lakes. In 2007 - botulism killed an estimated 7,500 migrating and native bird population including many Loons. The theory is that botulism occurs when the zebra mussels filter the water allowing more light to grow cladaphora algae which increases the outbreaks. The birds are affected by eating these infected fish and mussels.

Loons only have 2 loon chicks per year - they are lucky if one survives. Can you imagine the devastation that Botulism could have on our Loon population? I left the conference thinking I need to do more. There are so many opportunities we bird and nature bloggers have to get the message out there - share and exchange information - and help the creatures we care so much about.

29 comments:

You know, you just think birds will always just "be". It actually brought me to attention after I started reading this blog... They can't just "be" when man steps in and breaks their world apart. I've always kept my birds fed in the winter and given them shelter on my little piece of land...but that's just my little piece of the world!

I know zebra mussels have brought much trouble to the great lakes, what is really being done about them? and is there a way to reverse the affects they have left in the lakes?

Hi Shelley,I knew you will do good at the conference. I'm also sorry about the disease on loon. You know almost all animals are affected by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and disease right now. It is up to us to try to stop that!!

So glad you had a great time at the Conference! I knew you would do well :-)Sharing information through our blogs like you have today about the Loons is one of the reasons I love blogging so much. Looking forward to reading more about the Michigan Audubon Conference. Thanks for sharing Shelley.

I heard about how devastating that outbreak was. ANd any bird with such a low reproducing rate will have trouble coping. I fear we are moving towards loss of species diversity at a rate that can't be stopped.

We all need to be more informed on this subject. Once you see and hear aloon you never forget.I miss them as I have not seen any since I left Minnesota. I am so glad you did great at the conference. Sharon

Glad your conference went well and I'm sure your evals were great. Unhappy to hear about the threat to the loons. I hope creative resolutions for imbalance are discovered soon. I'm thankful the loons have watchful stewards like you.

Hi Shelley,Glad you had a good conference. It is hard to hear about the loons but I knew this was happening. Hopefully it will run it's course and slow down a bit. I don't know too much about that but know many birds have been lost. The ships brought in the pest and now what do we do...bring in another organism that will fight the mussels. It's hard to know. On a good note my friend spotted loons at her home on Lake Ontario, they're out there and lets hope they do well.

I was at your session on blogs at the conference and appreciate how complete and detailed you were. I have run a simple blog on baseball, but now have started a new one using pictures and hyperlinks, etc. My latest post is on the conference at:

I'm impressed that your readers care deeply and follow your concern for conservation. We need more like you! I admired your February posting on Trumpeter Swans as well and wanted to ask if you are out this month to keep us posted if you see any Trumpters with neck collars or wing tags. www.trumpterswansociety.org. Note the color, any number and describe the flock (#, # of white (adult) birds and number of gray (yearling) birds. We hope to keep track as birds wintering in new areas return to their northern realms. We have a Blog as well trumpterswansociety.org and welcome your readers participation. Keep us posted as you do so well in this Blog and thank you. Peg AbbottThe Trumpeter Swan Society

Sure wish I could have been at that conference. I knew you would be great. I hate to hear the news about avain botulism. Zebra mussles have wrecked havoc on so many issues. I am going to do a little reading up on what is being done about this issue. I can't imagine living in a world without birds! I LOVED the fat redpoll by the way! Oh...I have a titmouse who loves peanuts! He hogs um all day long! That would be a great picture for you! You are too funny! Smiles,Beth

Thank your everyone for your comments! I definitely have the nicest blogger friends! Some of you asked what we could do to help the Loons / other birds affected by botulism. There needs to be better management & stricter regulations of the ships that enter the great lakes as they are the ones depositing these mussels here. Additionally, reporting any sick bird or washed up bird on the shore so that it can be removed so the botulism doesn't continue to spread. Additionally - donating to organizations dedicated to protecting our birds and cleaning up our great lakes. I am donating a portion of all sales from Shelley's nature store to the Michigan Loon preservation and am searching for a great lakes organization to send $ to as well. Lastly - i think blogging helps - many of you already do this - bringing awareness about conditions affecting our birds and habitat. I recently saw a flurry of posts on the housefinch eye disease and I thought it was great how everyone was informed and instructed on how to clean the feeders, etc.Thank you again for visiting me - I appreciate it more than you can imagine!! :-)